Study recommends moved crosswalks, flashing beacons and long‑term sidewalks for Creek Road

Ivan, the consultant who presented the Creek Road corridor study, told the City Council the corridor is "just kind of a a mishmash out there" with many unmarked crossings and inconsistent ADA access. The study covered nearly four miles, included an online survey and a public open house, nine pedestrian count locations, traffic volumes and speeds, and a crash analysis that showed a cluster of pedestrian/bicycle‑related crashes around 4 Bush Lane.

The report found average daily volumes ranging roughly between 4,000 and 13,000 vehicles and said 85th‑percentile speeds exceeded 35 mph on much of the corridor. Ivan described short‑term recommendations to move three existing crosswalks, install two new crosswalks, and add low‑level treatments — including rapid rectangular flashing beacons (RRFBs), refuge islands and improved lighting — at multiple locations. "The flashing beacons, the, you know, rapid rectangular rapid flashing beacons, RFPs were the the predominant choice," he said, and the study prioritized locations based on crash history, pedestrian counts and neighborhood connectivity.

Councilmember Aaron DeKeyser pressed staff on speed policy and enforcement, asking why the city continues to cite the 85th percentile in decisions about speed limits. "We keep talking in presentations like this and others about the 85th percentile. Why are we still using that as a metric when the newly updated MUTCD guidelines don't use that anymore?" he asked. City staff and the presenter replied that speed management cannot rely on signage alone and that engineering changes such as re striping, bulb‑outs or removing center turn lanes can be more effective at slowing traffic than simply changing posted limits.

The presentation also recommended long‑term investments: filling missing sidewalk segments (especially on the south side near 4 Bush), upgrading crossings to be ADA and PROWAG compliant, adding medians and street trees to reduce perceived lane width, and pursuing a UDOT trail connection where Creek Road aligns with the Utah Trail Network. Staff said they plan a phased approach: pursue UDOT/trail funding for major gaps, implement low‑cost, shared short‑term fixes with Cottonwood Heights, and program larger projects in future capital budgets. The presentation was information‑only; staff will return with implementation proposals and cost details for council consideration.

Provenance: topicintro SEG 089 ("This study is is a study we've been jointly, doing with Cottonwood Heights.") → topfinish SEG 407 ("...that's, that's what I've got. I don't know whether you've got any questions for me or").